Time in the Panhandle

We have been without reliable internet service more often than not during these couple months out thus far. That being said, sharing on social media has been sporadic and filled with multiple photo regurgitations when I get a chance. An update is an update, no matter how old it is. We’re long past Texas. But writing about this brings up great memories already.

After leaving our friends in New Mexico, we continued east to Texas.

sisterly love

We stayed with another Harvest Host in Canyon, just a little south of Amarillo. I never knew this splendor existed near Amarillo!Highlights:-visited Palo Duro Canyon State Park.
-spent the day at the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.
-spent 3 nights at Bar Z Winery
-spray painted at Cadillac Ranch

Palo Duro Canyon is the 2nd largest canyon in the states. Can you guess the 1st? You can drive to the bottom of it; something you can’t do in the other canyon. The drive was beautiful, not too long and we were able to do a short hike. There is camping and lots of hiking paths so definitely a place to check out again.

The museum was a GREAT recommendation from our hosts. It had everything from dinosaurs to early life on the plains to geology to windmills. There were sculptures, hands on displays, era clothing, vehicles, dioramas, a fake town. It was fascinating! And huge. A pleasant surprise! And I think Violet got in free. Bonus! The kids still talk about the video they watched of a bison being butchered and what they learned the stomach can be used for. It made quite the impact.

layers upon layers of paint

Cadillac Ranch was a bit of a letdown. The cars are fascinating. The fact that they were partially buried in the ground as an art installation many years ago and are a part of an ever changing view by the probably hundreds that change it’s appearance with paint is lovely. But the hundreds of spray paint cans that are just tossed to the ground, buried in the earth, some only partially, put a bad feeling in my stomach. I thought about all the toxic paint oozing into the ground. I thought about how lazy people are and didn’t understand why there weren’t trashcans for empty cans or a shelf for unused ones to pass onto others. It just made me sad after a while and the cool factor went away. I left feeling a little deflated and bummed that people have the opportunity to make a memory and instead deface the ground in the process. meh.

sweet little bottle tops Jeff made

the view from our front door

The time we spent at the winery was naturally, the best. We got to hang with the owner, drink extraordinary wine (some before the general public got to taste it), chat until the wee hours about the history of the place. We were there during the 4th of July and had a phenomenal view of the fireworks from every direction. Jeff was even able to do live glassblowing that evening. We can’t wait to be in that part of the country again and pay them another visit.

our spacious spot at the winery

My only experience with Texas was the 6 months I spent in Wichita Falls in what seems like a lifetime ago. It wasn’t a place I longed to visit again. But I knew it had hidden beauty and I’m happy that we’ve found it. There’s so much more to explore here.